Race horse number



April 12, 1938. BUTLER 2,114,135

I RACE HORSE NUMBER Filed May 11, 1957 Tr T Jame? 5. 357 9:

Gum/mu Patented Apr. 12, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to an identifying device and more particularly to an arrangement for identifying a particular entry in a horse race or the like.

Heretofore it has been proposed to identify an entry in a race, for example, a particular horse, by means of tags, labels or other devices adapted to be attached to harness portions at either side of the horse. The conventional type of identifying means comprises rectangular shaped pieces of canvas, cloth or other similar material having numbers printed thereon. The numbers, as indicated above, are attached to the harness portion at either side of the horse, generally in the vicinity of the center of the body portion and are supported on the saddle portion of the harness. One objection to the use of these arrangements, is that considerable difllculty is encountered in connection with the maintenance of the numbers in proper position so that they are visible to officials and patrons, at all times during a race. It frequently happens, that the cloth or other material upon which the numbers are printed or stamped, becomes displaced with the result that the numbers are moved into an upside down position or the material is turned upwardly so that the number is not visible. Even though the cloth members are tied down at the edge portions, it will be appreciated that due to the position of these elements, namely, at either side of the harness portion, during the course of a race, and particularly when the horses are in substantially direct alignment that the numbers of the entries intermediate the inner and outer lanes of the track, that is from position out, will not be visible.

Considerable difilculty has been encountered byrace officials in properly identifying the winner of a race because the numbers have become displaced and they have also been unable to identify a particular horse at the start or during the race, which for some reason or other may be subject to disqualification. In addition to the trouble and annoyance experienced by race oiflcials in connection with the conventional type of identifying devices, the patrons have also found it almost impossible to distinguish between entries or follow a particular entry during the course of a race, by means of these devices. While it has been proposed to identify the horses and drivers, that is, numbers are placed on the harness and each driver is assigned the same number which is applied to an armband, the same objection applies to the use of arm bands as mentioned in connection with the use of fabthe pole ric attached to the harness. During the progress of a race, the drivers are frequently in direct alignment and it is impossible to distinguish the numbers appearing on the arm bands.

The purpose of the present invention, isto provide an identifying device adapted to be positioned so that it is visible at all times during the start, progress and finish of a race. In accordance with the present invention, the identifying device is mounted on the horses head, directly between the ears and is held in a substantially vertical position. The number designating the particular entry is printed or otherwise fixed to a disk on either side thereof, the disk being constructed and arranged whereby it is held in a position visible to officials and patrons'alike during the course of the race.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved identifying device whereby the entries in a horse race and the like, may be quickly identi- 4 fled through the medium of a numbering system, the designated number being visible to officials and patrons at all times durlngthe race.

Another object of my invention is to provide an identifying device, whereby the number, designating a particular entry is supported in a substantially vertical position between the ears of the horses A further object of my invention is to provide an improved identifying device for horse races and the like, designed to eliminate errors on the part of oflicials in mistaking designated numbers, due to the displacement of the device upon which the numbers are printed.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved numbering device for horse races and the like, which is strong and sturdy in construction,consisting of but few parts not liable to become displaced even after long and continued use.

With these and other objects in view, which may be incident to my improvements, the instructions, which for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the side of my improved identifying disc; and

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the means used to support the disc shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing and more particularly to Figure 1, the disc comprises a body portion I having a numeral stamped, printed or otherwise afiixed thereto, said number being used to designate a particular entry in a race. Attached to the bottom of the disc and near the periphery thereof, is an extension member 2,

adapted to seat in a complementary socket formed on the disc supporting device, as will be explained more fully hereinafter. Extension member 2 may be attached to the disc by rivets 3 orother suitable fastening means.

The disc is preferably made from a light weight metal, for example, aluminum or the like and both surfaces thereof are provided with identical numbers of the character shown in Figure 1, that is, a plurality of discs having different numbers are provided, but each disc has its designated number printed or otherwise attached to the front and back of the body portion thereof.

Referring to Fig. 2, there is shown a support device for the numbering or identifying disk described above, comprising a base member designated generally by numeral 4, the base being formed with a horizontal portion 5 and downwardly extending arms 6. Attached to the horizontal portion by rivets I or other suitable means, is a vertical socket member 8 having a longitudinal opening 9 therein. The arms 6 of the base member are provided with suitable straps III attached intermediate the ends of the arms and the horizontal portion 5, the straps being provided with suitable buckles I I adapted to receive the ends of the straps and hold the same in the desired adjusted position.

It will be noted that the downwardly extending arm members 6 are curved inwardly and outwardly in the vicinity of their end portions for the purpose of accommodating the arms on the side pieces of the bridle, that is, the arms are so shaped that they conform with the configuration of the animal's head portion and more particularly so that they will fit snugly against the side straps of the bridle. The strap members III may be riveted to the edges of the arms or may be threaded through a suitable slot formed in these members.

In mounting the identifying advice in the operative position, support member 4 is placed on the head portion of the animal with the horizontal section 5 resting upon the head portion and between the ears, the downwardly projecting arms 6 being inserted through the conventional or standard loops on the side portions of the bridle. In order to maintain the disc supporting member in position, straps I0 are wrapped around the side portions of the bridle, the ends of the straps being threaded through the buckle members which are adjusted to the required position. After the support member has been secured, as above noted, to the horses bridle, extension member 2 of the identifying disc I is inserted into longitudinal slot 9 of socket member 8 and positioned downwardly until the end of the extension member is substantially flush with the bottom of the slot. In this connection, it will be appreciated that tight engagement between the extension member and slot may be efiected in various ways.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction herein set forth, by way of illustrations, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for identifying a particular entry in a horse race or the like, comprising a base member formed with a horizontal portion and a pair of downwardly extending arms, said horizontal portion being supported at the top of the horse's head and between the ears, a strap attached to each of said arms adapted for engagement with opposite side portions of a bridle, a socket member attached to the horizontal portion of said base, a disc having identifying indicia on opposite sides thereof and means to detachably connect the disc with said socket.

2. A device for identifying a particular entry in a horse race or the like, comprising a disc having identifying indicia on opposite sides thereof, means to support said disc on a horse's head between the ears, comprising a base member formed with a horizontal portion and a pair of downwardly extending arms, a strap attached to each of said arms adapted for engagement with a portion of a bridle, a support member for said disc attached to the horizontal portion of said base and a complementary extension attached to the periphery of the disc adapted for cooperative engagement with said disc support member, whereby the disc is supported in a substantially erect position with the indicia clearly visible from either side thereof.

3. A device for identifying a particular entry in a horse race comprising, a disc having iden tifying indicia on opposite sides thereof, means to support said disc on a horses head between the ears, with the indicia visible from either side of the head, comprising a base member formed with a horizontal portion and a pair of downwardly extending arms, a strap attached to each of said arms adapted for engagement with opposite side portions of a bridle, a socket member attached to the horizontal portion of said base and a complementary extension attached to the periphery of the disc adapted for insertion into the socket, whereby the disc is supported in a substantially, erect position with the indicia clearly visible from either side thereof.

JAMES S. BUTLER. 

